Welcoming customers and new ways of enjoying eating out, managing costs and, of course, quality and sustainability: these are the requirements of the New Restaurant, as seen by the companies that will be presenting their solutions at HostMilano from 22 to 26 October 2021.

"To reopen, restaurants must rebuild customer confidence," says Mr. Eloy de Sousa Junior, the CEO of Brazil's Metalúrgica Skymsen Ltda, "and they are working to ensure safety measures and health protocols. And there’s more. “It will be necessary to review the layout, upgrade kitchen equipment to achieve more productivity and cleanliness, adapt the menu to new consumption patterns, improve communication with customers through social media, refine service and delivery quality, enhance the use of delivery apps and enable takeaway."

Interest in sustainability is growing, also on the corporate side: "Skymsen has adopted sustainable practices since its foundation, managing and disposing of waste in accordance with environmental regulations, progressively reducing water use and solid waste in its production process, reusing rainwater and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (-98.89 tonnes of CO2 in 2020, equivalent to 692 trees in a 30-year reforestation project), and owns a preserved part of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, also known as 'Mata Atlântica'".

At HostMilano, Skymsen will introduce a potato peeler with 6 and 10 kilo capacity, with a small built-in peeling container on the side that reduces the disposal of solid waste into the sewage system.

Koen van den Heuvel, International Sales Manager and Marketing & Communications Manager at the Dutch company Henkelman, which manufactures vacuum cooking machines with packaging made from recycled material, believes that restaurants will pursue cost reduction, optimisation and focus on quality. "And with high-end machines they will be able to do that. You can use our equipment by buying in bulk to control costs. It will be necessary to serve meals to more people in a shorter time because, due to the restrictions, there will be small groups split during the day and time management will be very important. And it will be crucial to have the right equipment.

 At HostMilano the Swedish company will present the latest table-top vacuum packaging machine.

"The catering industry is getting ready using new technological equipment that ensures the optimisation of resources (human, energy and water) and available space. But also with the use of IoT and materials that respect the environment and ensure hygiene by confirming the HACCP system and DIN standards," explains Valbona Elezi, Sales Office Manager of MEIKO Italia Srl.

Technology will be at the forefront across the board, from the lounge to the kitchen: touch screens, contactless, Internet of Things, digital management, delivery as additional business. "Sustainability is also a very important issue, from the origin of raw materials in the kitchen to the reduction of plastic (packaging, water bottles and/or reusable containers, plastic components of machines), from new washing systems to reusable tableware."

Among the novelties at HostMilano, Meiko will bring an undercounter washing system for glass bottles and the sophisticated tunnel dishwashers for washing glasses, plates, cups, in reusable rigid plastic.